News Brief

October 24, 1969

TORONTO (Oct. 23)

The Canadian Supreme Court has rejected an appeal to set aside a judgment against William John Beattie, a neo-Nazi agitator. The appeal was filed by Beattie’s lawyer, Robert Murray, in connection with charges that the self-styled Nazi leader used abusive language in a speech in a public park here in May, 1968.

The charge was originally dismissed by a Toronto magistrate’s court on the ground that the by-law governing the use of abusive language was outside the city’s jurisdiction and thereby invalid. The Ontario Court of Appeals later over-ruled the magistrate and was upheld by the Supreme Court.